FOOTBALLDigest 22 METROSPORT Tuesday, October 27, 2009 D Bellamy: FA right not to ban me for clash with fan Manchester city striker craig Bellamy has explained why the Football association was right to spare him any charges over his altercation with a supporter during last months Premier League derby at Old trafford. Bellamy confronted the fan after citys 4-3 defeat but was only warned about his conduct. the 30-year- old, who scored twice in the match, said: the simple facts are he shouldnt have been on the pitch and I shouldnt have gone over to him. I didnt punch him, didnt slap him. Ive shoved his head out of my direction, clear as that. the Fa have seen that, thats why I didnt get a ban. the fan was fined 305 (335) and banned from all football matches for three years. ONeill warning for Villa MANAGER Martin ONeill insists Aston Villa have to be at their best in every game this season if they are to achieve any success. Villa have collected seven points from games against Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City but only one from matches with Wigan, Blackburn and Wolves. Speaking ahead of the Carling Cup clash at Sunderland tonight, ONeill said: I dont think we should get too carried away by it all. We are not that good that we are capable of dismissing any opposition. We are getting a decent mentality about ourselves without getting carried away. Everton face injury crisis evertOn fear they will be without 11 players for tonights carling cup tie at tottenham. the Merseysiders face three games in six days, with Moyes angry the fourth-round tie at spurs could not have been moved to Wednesday. But television requirements, added to police concerns about two sets of fans from Merseyside travelling in the capital on the same day, meant it was Liverpools trip to arsenal switched for live broadcast. that left everton forced to play their tie two days after facing Bolton in the Premier League. and Moyes said: things are difficult with selection. But we will be trying our hardest to get through, whatever team we put out. Blackburn struck by swine flu outbreak Robinho says his ambition to become the best player in the world would be better served playing for barcelona than Manchester City. The brazil forward, who joined City just over a year ago for a british record fee of 32.5million from Real Madrid, has been closely linked with barca. Robinho has already admitted he would relish the chance to play for Pep Guardiolas side. And last night he admitted: im very happy about the interest that barcelona have in me, playing in the nou Camp it is much easier to be the best player in the world than at City. however, Robinho, who is currently sidelined with an ankle injury, added: im not forcing a hypothetical exit from England and neither do i have problems with my coach. Meanwhile, City boss Mark hughes has injury concerns as he prepares for a Carling Cup fourth-round tie against Scunthorpe tomorrow. hughes is counting the cost of his sides 2-2 Premier League draw with Fulham on Sunday, with in-form bulgaria winger Martin Petrov (knee) and defender Kolo Toure (heel) both suffering with knocks. BlackBurn manager Sam allardyce last night confirmed a third member of his squad has contracted swine flu ahead of tonights fourth round carling cup tie against Peterborough. allardyce said the virus had broken out within the squad before Saturdays defeat at chelsea and that the Premier league were informed prior to the match. chris Samba and David Dunn who both missed the trip to chelsea with a virus are believed to be two of the sufferers. But allardyce would refuse to confirm or deny that, saying: Its definitely swine flu youve speculated on the names and Ill leave it at that. We have had one more case this morning, one more player and there are a couple of staff. Other than that, the others we left behind are recovering well but not available for tomorrow. allardyce said Blackburn had to play the fixture at Stamford Bridge which they lost 5-0 because they were bound to do so by Premier league rules and admitted there was a chance the virus could have been passed on. He said: Its a highly contagious strain as everybody knows but I cant comment any further. Blackburn confirmed tonights game against Peterborough will go ahead, even though a similar situation in France on Sunday saw Paris St-Germains match at Marseille called off and PSGs players placed in quarantine. Robinho drops fresh Barca hint Ambition: Robinho Virus: Dunn tODAy SOCCER (7.45 unless stated) Carling Cup Fourth Round Barnsley v Man Utd....................... Blackburn v Peterborough .....8.00 Portsmouth v stoke....................... sunderland v aston villa ............... tottenham v everton...............8.00 Coca-Cola Football League One Bristol rovers v Leeds .................. Co-operative Insurance Cup Quarter-Final Dundee v rangers......................... st Johnstone v Dundee Utd.......... st Mirren v Motherwell .................. League of Ireland First Division Waterford Utd v shelbourne.......... HORSE RACING catterick, southwell, Yarmouth, Punchestown tENNIS (all week) AtP Bank Austria trophy (vienna) AtP Grand Prix de tennis de Lyon (France) AtP St. Petersburg Open (russia) tOMORROW SOCCER (7.45 unless stated) Carling Cup Fourth Round arsenal v Liverpool........................ chelsea v Bolton ........................... Man city v scunthorpe.................. Co-operative Insurance Cup Quarter-Final celtic v hearts........................7.35 HORSE RACING Musselburgh, haydock Park, Kempton, nottingham, Punchestown tENNIS (all week) WtA Sony Ericsson Chships (Doha, Qatar) tHuRSDAy GOLF (until sunday) Volvo World Match Play Chship (Finca cortesin Gc, casares, spain) HORSE RACING Lingfield, newcastle, stratford-on- avon, Wolverhampton, clonmel FRIDAy SOCCER (7.45 unless stated) Coca-Cola Championship QPr v Leicester............................. Coca-Cola Football League One southend v Gillingham .................. Coca-Cola Football League two Grimsby v accrington stanley....... League of Ireland Premier Division Bohemians v sligo......................... cork v Dundalk.............................. Derry city v Bray ........................... Drogheda Utd v st Patricks........... shamrock rvrs v Galway Utd 8.00 League of Ireland First Division athlone town v UcD ..................... Limerick Fc v Finn harps.............. Mervue Utd v sporting Fingal........ Monaghan Utd v Wexford Y ...8.00 shelbourne v Longford town .8.00 HORSE RACING newmarket, Uttoxeter, Wetherby, Wolverhampton, Dundalk MOtOR RACING (until sunday) FIA Formula 1 united Arab Emirates Grand Prix (abu Dhabi) RuGBy uNION Magners League: connacht v scarlets (6.30), Ospreys v Glasgow (7.05) SAtuRDAy SOCCER (3.00 unless stated) Barclays Premier League arsenal v tottenham.............12.45 Bolton v chelsea ........................... Burnley v hull ................................ everton v aston villa...................... Fulham v Liverpool ........................ Man Utd v Blackburn .............5.30 Portsmouth v Wigan...................... stoke v Wolverhampton ................ sunderland v West ham................ Coca-Cola Championship Bristol city v sheff Wed................. coventry v reading....................... Doncaster v Blackpool .................. Ipswich v Derby............................. Middlesbrough v Plymouth ........... Peterborough v Barnsley............... Preston v crystal Palace ............... scunthorpe v swansea ................. West Brom v Watford .................... Coca-Cola Football League One Brighton v hartlepool .................... carlisle v charlton ......................... exeter v Brentford ......................... Leeds v Yeovil................................ Leyton Orient v southampton ....... Millwall v colchester...................... Milton Keynes Dons v Bristol rovers ........................................... stockport v norwich...................... tranmere v swindon...................... Wycombe v Walsall ....................... Coca-Cola Football League two Bournemouth v rochdale.............. Burton albion v Bury ..................... cheltenham v crewe..................... chesterfield v Barnet..................... Dag & red v Port vale................... hereford v Darlington .................... Macclesfield v Bradford ................ Morecambe v Lincoln city............. notts county v shrewsbury .......... rotherham v aldershot.................. torquay v northampton................. Clydesdale Bank Premier League celtic v Kilmarnock ....................... hibernian v aberdeen.................... Motherwell v hearts ...................... st Johnstone v Falkirk................... st Mirren v hamilton...................... League of Ireland First Division Waterford Utd v Kildare county 7.00 HORSE RACING ascot, ayr, newmarket Wetherby, Wolverhampton, naas RuGBy uNION Magners League: Leinster v cardiff Blues (6.30), Munster v Ulster (5.00) A I B League Division One (2.30): Section A: cork constitution v Garryowen, shannon v UL Bohemians, st Marys college v Dolphin, clontarf v Blackrock college Section B: Ballynahinch v Young Munster, Buccaneers v Galwegians, Old Belvedere v Ballymena,Ucc v Dungannon SuNDAy SOCCER Barclays Premier League Birmingham v Man city..........4.00 Coca-Cola Championship cardiff v nottm Forest............5.00 Coca-Cola Football League One Oldham v huddersfield...........2.00 Clydesdale Bank Premier League Dundee Utd v rangers.........12.45 HORSE RACING carlisle, huntingdon, Lingfield, cork, Leopardstown RuGBy LEAGuE European Cup--Group two: Wales v Ireland (5.00) Magners League: edinburgh v newport-Gwent Dgons (5.05) GORDON StRACHAN has set his sights on guiding Middlesbrough straight back into the Premier League after being unveiled as their new manager. the 52-year-old (pictured) has signed a four-year deal with the Championship club and succeeds Gareth Southgate, who was sacked following last weeks victory over Derby. Strachan, who left Celtic in the summer, relishes the chance to lead fourth-placed Boro back into the top flight. He said: I feel I can make the people who I work with better, one way or another, and if I can do that we have a chance. At one point last week we were a point off the top of the league, but also two points off tenth place, so thats how tight it is. Its an exciting division to come into. Top flight is Gordons goal Picture:Getty this weeks fixtures By MARk CuRtIS soccer unable to finish game: Lennon No bust-up with Lennon, insists Spurs boss Harry HARRy REDkNAPP insists he has not had a row with Aaron Lennon after the winger limped out of the 1-0 defeat by Stoke. the tottenham boss was reported to be angry the England star left his team with ten men as he failed to return to the pitch on Saturday after suffering an ankle injury. Spurs had used all their substitutions and Stoke hit a late winner through Glenn Whelan. But Redknapp told Sky Sports: It has all got blown out of proportion. the lad was injured. All I said to Aaron was, is it possible for you to play on? I felt if we had stayed with 11 men, we would have won the game. We certainly would not have got beat. His ankle was too sore so he had to come off. I would not have wanted him to stay on and do more damage. Spurs will be without Jermain Defoe, who is suspended, and injured Lennon, Jonathan Woodgate, Ledley king and Luka Modric for tonights Carling Cup tie at home to Everton. index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html